Fourth Sunday of Easter

From the Pastor’s Desk

April 30, 2023

“Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep.”

~John 10:7

Brothers and Sisters,

Happy Easter!

Who is Jesus? 

If you’ve looked through the Gospels, you know Jesus has answered that question many times directly, usually leading with, “I am.” As in, “I am the good shepherd…the way, the truth, and the life. I am the Resurrection and the life…the bread of life. I am the light of the world…the vine.” These declarations validate Jesus as God’s equal. And as we know, many couldn’t handle this truth; as such, they charged Jesus with blasphemy and nailed him to the cross.

Compared to many of the affirmations above about His true identity, today’s Gospel, “I am the gate.” might appear to fall short at first reading. Admittedly, I immediately think of a rickety entrance needing repairs or at least a bit of WD-40. Yet, our heavenly Father, who serves as a gatekeeper, allows people to enter into union with him through the gate —through Jesus. (Think about it. How often do we end our prayers, “Through Christ our Lord, Amen”?) Still, this account from John tells us that many tried to get in by other means, which Jesus refers to as thieves and robbers, because they intended to exploit the sheep for their benefit. But Jesus’ believers are assured of His protection.

This week, take this question to prayer, and ask yourself, “When have I gone “through the gate”? I’ll offer a hint. We have successfully entered through when we live, serve, or worship in Jesus’ name or by his authority. When we enter the Church for Mass, the Sacraments, prayer, and worship in Adoration in our Chapel of the Good Shepherd, we accept our Lord’s invitation to spend time in His presence.

And naturally, if we live through Christ, we will discover whom the Lord is calling us to be and how we ought to live out our life, our vocation! Please let’s keep each other in prayer this week, too, asking God to remind us to encourage one another to walk through the gate so that we might live our lives purposefully and for the Lord.

 Our Parish will celebrate Mothers’ Day on the weekend of May 14, when we will thank God for our mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and the many mother figures who have helped us on the path of faith. 

Please consider including these amazing women, living or deceased, in our annual Mother’s Day Novena of Masses by visiting our website or by clicking here

Our annual May Crowning will also occur on May 14, after our 9 am Mass in our beautiful Rosary Garden. All those joining the ceremony are encouraged to bring flowers.

In closing, we are thrilled to welcome many of our youngest parishioners to receive their First Holy Communion next weekend! Please pray for them and their families. May our God nurture and protect all our children through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the Risen Lord,

Rev. Michael S. Triplett

Other Considerations in and around our Community:

  • Monthly Coffee & Conversation with OLPH Priests, Deacons & Parish Team
    Join us once a month for this unique opportunity to have a casual conversation with our entire OLPH Parish Staff Team all in one location. Curious about upcoming offerings? Or want to know what led Deacon Mike to move from prison ministry to ordained Deacon. Would you be interested in meeting others who attend daily Mass? Then join us for Daily Mass on Tuesday, May 2nd, at 8:15 am and stop by the Good Shepherd Room afterward! Look for these continued times together monthly on a Tuesday morning.
  • A FATHER’S HEART is a Full-length Feature Documentary coming to theatres on May 1st (in English) and 2nd (in Spanish): OUR LIBERATOR and THE FATHER’S HEART. OUR LIBERATOR (produced by The Knights of Columbus) is a short documentary film about a miracle St. Joseph did for prisoners in the Nazi Concentration Camps. A FATHER’S HEART is a full-length feature documentary following the people who’ve had their lives changed by answered prayer by St. Joseph, either as individuals or connected to one of the relatively recent St. Joseph shrines. We believe both of these movies will inspire people with examples of piety and faith, and remind us of the importance of fathers, even to Jesus himself. Here’s where you can get tickets to this double feature: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/A-Father%27s-Heart
  • The Gift: A Weekend Presentation – A seminar that draws us closer, in a very real way, to the Father, and to the Son through the Holy Spirit. We have been baptized and confirmed, but we rarely understand the great benefit of the Holy Spirit / the GIFT. There is much more! Watch the preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3TAAJQNWjc This is happening on May 5-6 at Sacred Heart, Glyndon 63 Sacred Heart Lane, Reisterstown, MD 21136. The seminar will include coffee/tea, snacks & Chick-fil-A lunch Event registration: See attached flyer and suggested bulletin announcement or call Shirlee at 443-895-4045 or Enza at 410-239-4138.
  • FREE PRESENTATION from former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican Ken Hackett will discuss his book “The Vatican Code” in Baltimore at the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s central branch (400 Cathedral Street) on Wednesday, June 21 from 7 to 8 p.m. The event is free. Hackett was the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican from 2013 to 2017. His talk will discuss the “inner workings of American diplomacy, the day-to-day duties of the position, and the relationship between the U.S. Embassy and the Vatican. Prior to his ambassadorship, he was president of Catholic Relief Services. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/writers-live-ambassador-kenneth-hackett-tickets-580435998697
  • WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY SPOUSE? – Art and Laraine Bennett are co-authors of The Temperament God Gave You, The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse, and The Temperament God Gave Your Kids. Laraine also created the game Know Thyself! The Game of Temperaments. Art is the co-founder and former Director of the Alpha Omega Clinics in northern VA and MD. He is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 30+ years of clinical experience, currently practicing at Bennett Consulting and Therapy, LLC. Art and Laraine have four adult children and nine grandchildren. The presentation takes place on May 11 in the main church at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit: St. Louis Parish (stlouisparish.org).